PARACHUTING AND HEAVY DROP 1960

[Peter Laidler]

I think that he was drifting towards us, facing forwards and should have just made a final swing to face left for a right side roll or vice verca but didn't follow his drills in short. I always assessed the drift roughly on the way down by loooking at the others and through the V in my boots/ankles. Then made any minor correction once I could actually see the grass clearly. when close. Let the container (or CESP - remember them Gil) hit and land right side, roll in, over, across back, legs over and wait a second. All OK, up, collapse canopy and......... Could do it tomorrow. The irony was that it was never fun, just another day out. Some would go up again for a second loop around is time and PJI's were OK about it

[Sarge]

Besides making the mandatory training & pay jumps, I jumped when ever I got a chance. One day I managed to get in 4 jumps because there were lots of guys jumping and so lots of A/C spread out during the day.
I've also got A combat jump or 2 (Mike Force) in Viet Nam and unlike the 173d Abn "combat" jump there were No friendlies securing the DZ when we landed. How do I know this - My Mike Force was the ones on the ground - and they didn't jump in!
Sarge

[Bruce_in_Oz]

1960; a time of great transitions.

I guess that, even if these were troops at the very top of the "food chain", they would do training jumps with the rapidly retiring No4., rather than nice new L1A1s.

---------- Post added at 02:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:01 AM ----------

Re the "interesting" landings.

The origin of the term "meat-bombs"?

[browningautorifle]

I've also got A combat jump or 2 (Mike Force) in Viet Nam

Another surprise Sarge...I knew you were there but you never mentioned that tidbit... Guess we didn't ask.